Ku-ring-gai Council has reinstalled a much-loved replica bronze sculpture of the well-known 1935 Mercury at the Fisk Monument in Wahroonga.
The Fisk Monument was erected to commemorate the first international direct wireless message from the United Kingdom to Australia.
On the 22 December 1918, a wireless message was sent from Marconi long wave radio station in Carnarvon, Wales to radio engineer Sir Ernest Fisk at his home ‘Lucania’ on Stuart Street, Wahroonga.
Designed by James Vicars, the monument featured a 35cm bronze statue of Roman god Mercury, messenger of the gods.
Over the years, an unhappy fate befell poor Mercury, as he was stolen, vandalised and damaged on multiple occasions.
With support from the community, Council created a replica of the Mercury statue to be reinstalled on the Fisk Monument.
“Mercury is the Roman god of travellers and merchants and was depicted as the symbol for the Marconi company’s wireless communication,” said Mayor, Christine Kay.
“Poor Mercury had a bit of a chequered history in Wahroonga, having been stolen and vandalised over the past century.
“But we are pleased to finally return Mercury to the historic site at Lucania, where he will take pride of place atop the Fisk Monument.”
The monument features an inscription of the first radio message sent to Australia. It is the words of Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes:
“I have just returned from a visit to the battlefields where the glorious valour and dash of the Australian troops saved Amiens and forced back the legions of the enemy. Filled with greater admiration than ever for these glorious men, and more convinced than ever that it is the duty of their fellow-citizens to keep these magnificent battalions up to their full strength.”
At the base of the monument are four bronze lions, symbolic of England. A globe shows maps of England and Australia, with a jagged line connecting the two.
Construction of the monument was spearheaded by the Wahroonga Community Association, in conjunction with the Royal Australian Historical Society and the Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited, with financial support from Council.
The then-owner of Lucania donated the land for the monument and conveyed it in trust to Ku-ring-gai Council. Modifications have been made to the monument over the years to prevent it from further vandalism. The original Mercury statue is displayed at the Council Chambers in Gordon.
